Visitor Activities

Located right along the Missouri River, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides a number of great opportunities to explore, discover and learn about the plants, wildlife and habitat of the Missouri River floodplain.

Scroll down for information on the following visitor activities:

-Hunting

-Fishing

-Wildlife Viewing

-Interpretation

-Environmental Education

-Wildlife Photography

Hunting

Hunting opportunities at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge are available on a regulated basis. Deer hunts are available yearly. All hunting occurs within the state seasons, follows the regulations of the state and special Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge regulations.

Boyer Chute does not charge an entrance fee.

Please note that all hunters at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge must pay and/or possess an entrance pass in addition to possession of a state and refuge hunting permit. For more information about hunting opportunities at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge please follow this link: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Desoto/

- Waterfowl hunting is permitted in accordance with State and Federal hunting regulations.

- Hunters must possess all applicable State and Federal licenses and stamps.

- Refuge hunting area is open to the hunting of the following waterfowl species only: ducks, geese, and coots. No other migratory species or any upland game hunting is permitted.

- Hunters may access the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise to 1 hour after legal sunset.

- Hunting area is defined as the immediate shoreline of the Missouri River, up to and including the high bank. See map for area open to waterfowl hunting.

- Waterfowl hunting is prohibited on the Boyer Chute waterway.

- Hunting area may be accessed by land, walk-in access from any of the public use area parking lots located on the west side of Boyer Chute; weapons must be cased and dogs leashed until reaching hunting area.

- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the island roads and trails.

- Weapons must be unloaded and cased while traveling through the closed area.

- It is illegal to retrieve game from areas closed to hunting.

- Portable daily blinds are permitted, however the cutting, pulling, or other destruction of vegetation is prohibited. All blinds must be removed at the conclusion of each day's hunt. The construction or use of permanent blinds and/or pits is prohibited.

- Decoys cannot be left unattended at any time.

- Dogs may be used for waterfowl hunting, but must be under the handlers control at all times.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed year-round in the Missouri River and Boyer Chute, except when the chute is ice covered. See the regulations brochure for full information.

Wildlife Viewing

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. A wide variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds, neotropical migrants, mammals and many others can be seen at the refuge. Wildlife can be seen from refuge roads and hiking trails. Wildlife can be seen anytime of the year with the largest concentrations of migrating birds in the spring and fall.

Interpretation

Through interpretive exhibits, brochures and programs, visitors have the opportunity to connect with the resources of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. A variety of interpretive signs are available at refuge kiosks and wayside exhibits. Interpretive programs and special events are held throughout the year to help people get to know their national wildlife refuge.

Environmental Education

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides many opportunities for learning. Through environmental education programs, students meet curriculum goals while connecting with nature. DeSoto and Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuges partner with the local Blair Community School district for the Blair Schools/DeSoto NWR Environmental Education partnership where students make repeat visits to the refuge each year. The refuge partners with Edison Elementary in Omaha for a yearlong refuge experience for 6th grade students that include school visits by rangers and field trips to the refuge. Other are schools are also served for single visit field trips to the refuge that are facilitated with activity guides and other assistance from refuge staff.

Photography

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is full of photographic opportunities. Photographers have ample opportunities to photograph migratory waterfowl, bald eagles, scenic vistas and other resident wildlife. There are no special photography blinds on the refuge but photographers can shoot from any location open to the general public.

What We Do

Migratory Waterfowl

During the spring and fall, Boyer Chute’s wetlands become a temporary home for a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds. Look for migrating birds from September-December and March-April. A variety of birds depend on the aquatic and wetland habitats at Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. Such species include mallards, blue and green winged teal, northern pintail, American wigeon, wood ducks, Canada geese and pelicans.